American Studies

American Studies is a broad-based interdisciplinary program that explores the rich complexity of American culture and American Lives. Courses focus on national myths and everyday realities, race and ethnicity, work, technology, media and popular culture, architecture and city planning, and the production and consumption of art forms like photography, film, dance, and music. In American Studies, though, we do not treat these topics as discrete categories, but instead explore their relationships to each other. For instance, we look at ideas about race and class embedded in national symbols and ideas. Through a variety of courses and in a mix of different categories, American Studies provides students with a deep understanding of the many forces and ideas shaping America over a long sweep of time in any number of places, the East, the West, in the heartland and at the borders. The program also offers student internship opportunities, and other hands-on kinds of learning, at a variety of cultural institutions in Philadelphia and the Delaware Valley. American Studies courses are known as challenging and thought-provoking, and many of them are cross-listed with the Temple University Honors Program. The major program stresses development of reading, writing, and analytical skills that are necessary for successful careers in a range of professional fields. American Studies majors go on to graduate school in the humanities and social sciences, law school, and medical school. They also may take jobs in schools, non-profit organizations, museums, libraries, business, social services, public relations, and the media.

Requirements for the Major

Department

Course #

Course Name

Hours

RCI

Introduction

3

American Studies

2098

Reading Culture

WI

All majors must complete five American Studies core courses, one out of each group below:

American Biography and Work - Select one:

3

American Studies

1001/1901

American Lives

AC

American Studies

1042

Work in America

AC

American Studies

1002

Key Documents in American Civilization

American Culture – Select one:

3

American Studies

2011

The Arts in America

American Studies

2022

Museums and American Culture

American Studies

2012

Introduction to Material Culture

American Studies

3011

Photography in America

American Studies

3012

Film and American Society

American Studies

3061

Mass Media and American Popular Culture

American Studies

3013

The Documentary Mode

American Studies

2120/2900

Topics in American Culture+

Place in American Life – Select one:

3

American Studies

2051/2951

American Places: Home, City, Region

American Studies

2021

Philadelphia Neighborhoods

American Studies

3022

The City: Urban Design and American Culture

American Studies

3051/3951

American Frontiers

American Studies

2001

Tourism in America

American Studies

2120/2900

Topics in American Culture+

Diversity in America – Select one:

3

American Studies

3096

American Woman: Visions and Revisions

WI

American Studies

2096

Asian Diaspora

WI

American Studies

2097

Asian Women in Transition

WI

Change in America – Select one:

3

American Studies

3041

Contemporary Trends in the American Workplace

American Studies

2041

Technology and American Culture

American Studies

3901

Honors Ideal America: Reform, Revolution, and Utopia

American Studies

3032

Literature and Political Change

American Studies

3033

Courtroom in American Society

American Studies

2064

America in the 1950s

American Studies

3031/3931

Political Protest and Culture in the 60’s

American Studies

3075

Literature of American Slavery

RS

American Studies

2031

Radicalism in the United States

American Studies

2032

Critical Moments in the American Past

American Studies

2065

Global America

American Studies

2120/2900

Topics in American Culture+

+Specific subjects change each semester. See course descriptions for information on a particular offering.
American Studies 2120 may meet one or more of the above requirements with permission of director.

Students must also complete three additional courses in American Studies.
These can
include choices from
the American Studies core courses as well as choices from all other American
Studies courses.

American Studies

Electives (select from 2120-4098)

9

In addition, students must take at least three courses outside of the major selected in consultation with the American Studies director and congruent with an American Studies focus. We recommend that at least 6 of these credits be in American history and literature.

Open

Electives - American Studies Focus

9

Capstone course –Select one**

3

American Studies

American Studies

4097 or
4098

Senior Seminar in American Studies

Senior Independent Study

WI*

WI*

Total

39

* Indicates Writing Capstone for the Major

**Students must take the Senior Seminar in their final year of study (usually offered in Fall semester). Only in rare circumstances and with special permission can students satisfy the capstone by taking 4098.

All Temple students must take a minimum of two writing-intensive courses. The specific writing-intensive courses required for this major are listed above and are identified by "WI" in the RCI column.

Distinction in Major

American Studies majors may graduate with distinction in the major if they have a GPA of at least 3.5 in the major and a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0

Requirements for the American Studies Minor

Department

Course #

Course Name

Hours

RCI

American Studies

Select six American Studies courses, at least three of which
should be taken from American Studies Core Areas as listed
under "Major Requirements."

18

Asian American Studies Minor

This interdisciplinary minor focuses on Asian American history, culture, and contemporary issues as well as their Asian roots and American context. The Asian American Minor is six courses (18 s.h.), four in Asian American Studies, one in American Studies, and one Asian Studies course under an Asian Studies or cross-listed number, as distributed below. In lieu of taking regular academic courses, students can earn credits through fieldwork and independent study under a professor's guidance. This minor is a useful credential for majors in education, journalism and communication, social administration, health science, social science, humanities, history, pre-law studies, and business fields such as personnel and marketing.

Department

Course #

Course Name

Hours

RCI

Select fourAsian American courses listed or cross-listed in American Studies.

12

American Studies

2107

Asian American Experiences

RS

American Studies

1901

Honors American Lives

AC

American Studies

3074

Introduction to Asian American Literature

American Studies

2096

Asian Diaspora

WI

American Studies

2097

Asian Women in Transition

WI

Select one American Studies course on race or ethnicity (or an alternative
approved by an advisor).

3

American Studies

2071

Immigrant Experiences in America

American Studies

2072

Puerto Ricans in Philadelphia

American Studies

3071

African American Experiences

RS

American Studies

3101

Latino Identity in the U.S.

Italian

4161

Italian-American Literature & Culture

Select oneAsian Studies course under an Asian Studies or cross-listed number.
Advisors can help choose from a list of over 60 courses.

3

Total

18

Suggested Semester-by-Semester Plans

Requirements for New Freshman Students starting in the 2009-2010 Academic Year

Freshman Year – 1st Semester

Department

Course #

Course Name

Hours

RCI

English

0802, 0812 or 0902

Analytical Reading & Writing

4

GW

GenEd

08xx or 09xx

Quantitative Literacy

4

GQ

Foreign Language

1001

Foreign Language (first level)

4

GenEd

08xx or 09xx

Human Behavior

3

GB

Subtotal

15

Freshman Year – 2nd Semester

Department

Course #

Course Name

Hours

RCI

IH

0851 or 0951

Mosaic: Humanities Seminar I

3

GY

Foreign Language

1002

Foreign Language (second level)

4

GenEd

08xx or 09xx

Diversity and Race

3

GD

GenEd

08xx or 09xx

U.S. Society

3

GU

American Studies

1000+

One American Biography and Work
Course From Approved List

3

Subtotal

16

Sophomore Year – 1st Semester

Department

Course #

Course Name

Hours

RCI

Foreign Language/
GenEd

0800+

Foreign Language (third level) or
a GenEd World Society course or
an
Internationally Focused Course From
Approved List

3

GG

IH

0852 or 0952

Mosaic: Humanities Seminar II

3

GZ

GenEd

08xx or 09xx

Science & Technology I

3

GS

American Studies

2098

Reading Culture

3

WI

American Studies

2000+

One American Culture Course From
Approved List

3

Any

0800-4999

One Elective in Any School or College

2

Subtotal

17

Sophomore Year – 2nd Semester

Department

Course #

Course Name

Hours

RCI

GenEd

08xx or 09xx

Arts

3-4

GA

GenEd

08xx or 09xx

Science & Technology II

3

GS

GenEd

08xx or 09xx

World Society

3

GG

American Studies

2000+

One Diversity in America Course From
Approved List

3

WI

American Studies

2000+

One Place in American Life Course
From the Approved List

3

Subtotal

15-16

Junior Year – 1st Semester

Department

Course #

Course Name

Hours

RCI

CLA/CST

2000+

One 2000+ Humanities/CST Course

3

American Studies

2000+

One Change in America Course From
the Approved List

3

American Studies

2120-4098

One American Studies Elective

3

Any

1000+

One Focus Elective (Choose This Course
With the
American
Studies Director)

3

CLA/CST

0800-4999

Any CLA/CST Elective

3

Subtotal

15

Junior Year – 2nd Semester

Department

Course #

Course Name

Hours

RCI

CLA/CST

2000+

One 2000+ Humanities/CST Course

3

American Studies

2120-4098

One American Studies Elective

3

American Studies

2120-4098

One American Studies Elective

3

CLA/CST

2000+

One 2000+ CLA/CST Course

3

CLA/CST

0800-4999

Any CLA/CST Elective

3

Subtotal

15

Senior Year – 1st Semester

Department

Course #

Course Name

Hours

RCI

Any

1000+

One Focus Elective (Choose This Course
With the American
Studies Director)